Plaid! Cutting Board

After making and posting my argyle cutting board to facebook, a friend of mine suggested I make a plaid cutting board. I had thought about it before, but since she showed interest, I figured I’d give it a shot. It would either be totally amazing or a complete failure.

I browsed some images online until I found a pattern that I liked and that was simple enough to execute through wood. I did a few sketches just to get the measurements the way I liked.

1. I made the center square out of purpleheart and walnut. I cut three 1” wide strips of purpleheart and sandwiched two 1/4” pieces of walnut between them. Glue and clamp together and set aside.

2. I made the lighter squares from maple and walnut. Again, I cut three 1” wide strips of maple and sandwiched the 1/4” walnut between. Glue and clamp and set aside.

3. Plane the two glue-ups.

4. Using the cross-cut sled, I cut three 1” strips of purpleheart/walnut and eight 1 1/2” strips of maple/walnut. Set aside.

5. For the corners I used some left-over 1 1/2” x 1 1/2” pieces of walnut which I had cut for one of my argyle boards. You will need 16.

6. Sandwich 1 1/2” long pieces of yellowheart between the pieces of walnut. You should have 8 clamped up pieces.

7. Glue 1/4” pieces of yellowheart between two of your cut pieces of wanut, making sure you line up your walnut strips. Clamp and wait.

8. Glue 1/4” strips of walnut between the three purpleheart pieces. Clamp and wait.

9. Once the glue has set up on the walnut/yellowheart squares, unclamp. Then glue yellowheart between two of the pieces you just unclamped and re-clamp.

10. Once your pieces are assembled, square up on the tablesaw… unless, of course, you cut perfectly and can line them up perfectly.

Wow…very detailed comprehensive description….thank you for that !.....Added to favorites….as stated many times here or via Facebook…you two do amazing work…wish you both continued success with K & J Wood Crafts….